Cooking

Cooking is a cultural expression, a way of combining and transforming products that nature gives us.

When we say "culinary arts" we are saying that the food communicates, "talks", connects and possesses a sense beyond feeding, nursing, reproducing.

If we take a look in the past at colonial chronicle's and writings, we can see that mapuche women created a diet based on vegetables (fruits, cereals, herbs, etc.) and meats (domestic and wild animals), that they maintain . A lot of vegetables and animal species have disappeared, however the actual ways for preparing those meals have not significant changes.

Preparation Mix flood, water, salt and yeast. Knead in a wooden bowl or “trae queple”. Round off and let dough rest. Then bury in the rescoldo (ashes) of the fire (try to keep the heat of the fire). In some places, the ashes are mixed with sand to improve the cooking

The "Curanto en Hoyo " is a traditional dish from the Great Island of Chiloé. The Island was inhabitated by the Chono people. Nowadays the Williche communities maintain the Chono people´s traditions. The word "curanto"; comes from mapudungun "curantü";, that means "stone warmed up by the sun". The original "curanto"; must be prepared outside of the house in a pit , in contact with "the warm mother earth";, stones, and leaves of nalca, which allow to seal the ingredients through steam cooking.

Preparation: First of all it is necessary to dig a hole in the ground about one meter in diameter and some one-half meter deep. Put firewood, coal and stones of regular size into the hole. Start a fire under the stones. When the stones are very hot, clear away the large pieces of burning wood and debris, leaving the hole filled with scalding rocks and embers. Over the hot stones dump a first layer of clams followed by meat (chicken, smoked prok ribs), pork sausages, potatoes, vegetables, onions, leeks and finally mussels that require less cooking time. These are covered with cabbage leaves upon which the "chapaleles" and "milcaos" are spread. All of this is covered by nalca leaves and the large patch of earth and grass that was cut away from the earth to dig the hole is placed grass side down over the hole.

The curanto must be left alone to cook for 45 minutes. Then open the hole carefully so that don´t introduce dust in the baking. A curanto is also served with "pebre,” a type of salsa made from diced tomatoes and onions, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, garlic, aji, oil and salt.

* Milcao: a soft potato bread made out of grated potatoes. They are filled with chicharrones.

* Chapalele: a soft potato bread made out of mashed potatoes and raw grated potatoes.